Blowlog Alert

[Allen Rittman]

I must say after shooting Class B commercial fireworks for over 20 years it very exciting to light something in a metal, or PVC tube and watching it explode shooting the projectile high in the sky were it paints the sky with fire, I can understand how one could fall in love with a blowlog. DO NOT USE regular PVC this was like schedule 400 PVC we were using.

My first encounter with a blow log was at Turner Bend about 10 years ago. A big group had one set up down by the river over in the camp ground. I did not see it so we were quite surprised when the first shot was fired. It was as loud as a “salute” a 3 to 8 inch diameter shell that shoots about 350’ in the air before going off. At ground level they are very loud. Anyway I had to go investigate, for explosives are like a drug once you start playing with them it is very hard to stop. After watching these guys drop a couple of cans of something inside that would explode I decided to move back a little, well a lot. Like I said for 20 years I had lit Display fireworks and had them launch right beside my head, but this WOW!! I remember thinking what if that 16 oz propane bottle blew the log apart. Where would the shrapnel go? So I moved back a little more!! Cowper is right children and dogs should be kept way back!!!

But when you get a bunch of adrenalin junkies together like some paddlers this type of activity is bound to happen. Just be safe, explosives injuries are usually very permanent i.e. you could lose your finger, toe, leg, arm, or head or your life. I have served my 20 years and have retired from such activity at the demand of my wife, kids and parents. It literally took an intervention to stop me. And after that my fireworks buddies would call and want me to go shoot a show with them, and I would have to say no like a recovering cocaine addict. It was really had to give up, there is nothing like literally blowing up $25,000 in fireworks in 15 minutes.

All you Blow Loggers out there have a BLAST and be SAFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Roy Staggs]

I, like Cowper, have heard the big boys talking about these “blowlogs” but I don’t think you can prove I have ever been near one. The one thing you REALLY need to remember is: It’s not a real fire unless you can see it from the Space Station.

[Crane]

I guess we'll probably be finding out soon if you can build one and set it off on the Green in Desolation Canyon... Rummor has it that Orville Wright AND Marcell Jones, both Certifiable PyroManiacs, will be visiting there at the same time in early June... Visual from the Space Shuttle, for sure... Space Station? They'll have to turn off the Hubble telescope so it doesn't burn out... I understand Orville's raft will be carrying nothing but flamable materials... and the raft may burn, too!

[Charlie Ford]

Is it certain that blowlogs are banned from Turner Bend, I was at the Jungle Boater not this year but the year before and our camp had about a 7 footer. Nobody said anything about it to us but it may have been pretty late when it went up, it's a little hazy

[Cowper]

I heard it from Brad (the owner). If it was late, and you didn't throw in anything that woke folks up, that might explain why nothing was said.

Only way to find out for sure if the rule changed would be to call Brad (Turner Bend) and ask, but my bet would be that they are still officially banned. The ban was implemented after someone had to be transported to an ER; so Brad would be taking an unnecessary legal risk if he gave his OK for further antics.

[mb]

"I guess we wouldn't want too many trees in a park."

It would seem that way...but...hollow trees have the potential for being hazardous to persons and property. Many people, each year are killed by falling limbs and/or trees. There doesn't have to be a wind, either.

Just my professional opinion--and the opinion of the International Society of Arboriculture.